UAE Tenant Credit Score Checks Launched via UAE PASS: What the New System Does

Quick Answer: Etihad Credit Bureau has launched a Tenant Screening service that allows private UAE landlords to request a prospective tenant credit score, with data only released if the tenant approves through UAE PASS. The service was announced on 17 May 2026 and is available via the Etihad Credit Bureau app and website. It was previewed at GITEX 2025 and developed with TDRA and Digital Dubai.

Private landlords in the UAE can now request the credit scores of prospective tenants through a digital screening service from Etihad Credit Bureau but only if the tenant explicitly agrees to share the data through UAE PASS. The announcement, reported by Khaleej Times and Gulf News on 17 May 2026, introduces a consent-based mechanism that adds a regulated layer of due diligence to rental applications. This briefing summarises what was announced and what landlords and tenants need to know based on the official disclosures.

What Was Announced

Etihad Credit Bureau, in partnership with the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) and Digital Dubai, has rolled out a new Tenant Screening service. Under the system, landlords can request a credit check on a prospective tenant, but the information is only shared if the tenant approves the request via UAE PASS, the UAE’s national digital identity platform.

According to Gulf News, the service was previewed publicly at GITEX 2025 before its rollout. It is available through the Etihad Credit Bureau mobile app and the bureau’s website.

Alongside the Tenant Screening launch, Etihad Credit Bureau also announced an upgrade to its existing Cheque Clearance Indicator. Khaleej Times reports that the tool now uses artificial intelligence to allow users to scan cheques and assess the likelihood of them being cleared, based on credit data drawn from the issuer’s record.

How the Consent-Based Process Works

Gulf News describes the platform as working through a consent-based process. A landlord submits a request for a credit score, and the information is only released after the tenant approves through UAE PASS. If the tenant does not consent, no data is shared.

The end-to-end flow as described in the source reporting:

1. The landlord initiates a screening request through the Etihad Credit Bureau app or website.
2. The prospective tenant receives the request through UAE PASS.
3. The tenant approves or declines the request.
4. If approved, the credit score is released to the landlord. If declined, no information is shared.

Etihad Credit Bureau stated that the system is designed to improve transparency and confidence in the rental market while giving residents greater control over how their financial data is shared.

Etihad Credit Bureau Score Range

Etihad Credit Bureau scores range from 300 to 900, with higher scores indicating stronger creditworthiness, as referenced in Gulf News reporting and Etihad Credit Bureau public materials.

The bureau publishes the numerical score without official tier band labels. Third-party banking and credit-education publishers have published interpretive bands; the table below reflects one such interpretation. Lenders and landlords apply their own internal cut-offs.

What Officials Said About the Launch

Three senior officials are publicly attached to the rollout, with quotes carried by Khaleej Times.

Marwan Ahmad Lutfi, Director-General of Etihad Credit Bureau, said: “By integrating the sharing of trusted credit data through the UAE PASS platform, along with enhancing cheque scanning with AI, we continue to boost transparency and confidence through new use cases in key sectors.”

Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Director-General of Digital Dubai, said UAE PASS has evolved into a cornerstone of the UAE’s digital trust infrastructure, extending beyond digital identity to enable secure consent management and trusted data exchange. He added the integration is particularly impactful in sectors such as real estate, where trust, speed, and transparency are essential.

Eng. Majed Sultan Al Mesmar, Director-General of TDRA, said the initiative reflects the role of integrating national digital infrastructure with financial and credit services to develop solutions that strengthen trust and transparency in the real estate sector.

Etihad Credit Bureau stated it plans to develop the Tenant Screening service further with the real estate sector and to introduce more consent-based digital services using UAE PASS, according to Gulf News.

The Upgraded Cheque Clearance Indicator

Khaleej Times reports that the bureau also upgraded its Cheque Clearance Indicator with artificial intelligence. The tool lets users scan cheques and receive an assessment of clearance likelihood, based on the issuer’s credit data.

Gulf News reports that officials said the combined Tenant Screening and Cheque Clearance Indicator services could help reduce financial risks linked to rental disputes, bounced cheques and delayed payments.

Both tools are accessible through the Etihad Credit Bureau app and website.

Image Placeholder 3: Mock-up of the Etihad Credit Bureau app showing the Tenant Screening and Cheque Clearance Indicator features. Alt text: “Tenant credit score and Cheque Clearance Indicator on the Etihad Credit Bureau app”

What This Means for Landlords and Tenants

Based on the official disclosures, the system is consent-based and the source reporting does not indicate that it is mandatory. Landlords have the option to request a credit check tenants have the option to approve or decline.

Gulf News reports that the move is expected to affect thousands of UAE residents searching for rental homes, as landlords increasingly seek financial checks before signing tenancy contracts.

For tenants, the practical implication of the new system is that the option for a credit check is now available to landlords during the application stage. Tenants who wish to access their own credit report ahead of any application can do so through the Etihad Credit Bureau app or website.

For landlords, the service adds an additional, consent-based data point to the application review process, alongside the standard documentation typically requested at lease signing.

For broader tenancy context, see our Ejari registration Dubai guide, our Dubai rental market report 2026, our overview of renting in Dubai, and our DEWA Dubai guide for the wider set of costs and registrations a credit check sits alongside at lease signing.